第34章

CHAPTERIII

APPARITIONTOFATHERMABEUF

Mariusnolongerwenttoseeanyone，buthesometimesencounteredFatherMabeufbychance。

WhileMariuswasslowlydescendingthosemelancholystepswhichmaybecalledthecellarstairs，andwhichleadtoplaceswithoutlight，wherethehappycanbeheardwalkingoverhead，M。Mabeufwasdescendingonhisside。

TheFloraofCauteretznolongersoldatall。TheexperimentsonindigohadnotbeensuccessfulinthelittlegardenofAusterlitz，whichhadabadexposure。M。Mabeufcouldcultivatethereonlyafewplantswhichloveshadeanddampness。Nevertheless，hedidnotbecomediscouraged。HehadobtainedacornerintheJardindesPlantes，withagoodexposure，tomakehistrialswithindigo"athisownexpense。"ForthispurposehehadpawnedhiscopperplatesoftheFlora。Hehadreducedhisbreakfasttotwoeggs，andheleftoneoftheseforhisoldservant，towhomhehadpaidnowagesforthelastfifteenmonths。Andoftenhisbreakfastwashisonlymeal。

Henolongersmiledwithhisinfantilesmile，hehadgrownmoroseandnolongerreceivedvisitors。Mariusdidwellnottodreamofgoingthither。Sometimes，atthehourwhenM。MabeufwasonhiswaytotheJardindesPlantes，theoldmanandtheyoungmanpassedeachotherontheBoulevarddel’Hopital。Theydidnotspeak，andonlyexchangedamelancholysignofthehead。Aheart—breakingthingitisthattherecomesamomentwhenmiseryloosesbonds！

Twomenwhohavebeenfriendsbecometwochancepassers—by。

Royalthebooksellerwasdead。M。Mabeufnolongerknewhisbooks，hisgarden，orhisindigo:thesewerethethreeformswhichhappiness，pleasure，andhopehadassumedforhim。Thissufficedhimforhisliving。Hesaidtohimself:"WhenIshallhavemademyballsofblueing，Ishallberich，Iwillwithdrawmycopperplatesfromthepawn—shop，IwillputmyFlorainvogueagainwithtrickery，plentyofmoneyandadvertisementsinthenewspapersandIwillbuy，Iknowwellwhere，acopyofPierredeMedine’sArtdeNaviguer，withwood—cuts，editionof1655。"Inthemeantime，hetoiledalldayoverhisplotofindigo，andatnighthereturnedhometowaterhisgarden，andtoreadhisbooks。Atthatepoch，M。Mabeufwasnearlyeightyyearsofage。

Oneeveninghehadasingularapparition。

Hehadreturnedhomewhileitwasstillbroaddaylight。

MotherPlutarque，whosehealthwasdeclining，wasillandinbed。

Hehaddinedonabone，onwhichalittlemeatlingered，andabitofbreadthathehadfoundonthekitchentable，andhadseatedhimselfonanoverturnedstonepost，whichtooktheplaceofabenchinhisgarden。

Nearthisbenchthererose，afterthefashioninorchard—gardens，asortoflargechest，ofbeamsandplanks，muchdilapidated，arabbit—hutchonthegroundfloor，afruit—closetonthefirst。

Therewasnothinginthehutch，buttherewereafewapplesinthefruit—closet，——theremainsofthewinter’sprovision。

M。Mabeufhadsethimselftoturningoverandreading，withtheaidofhisglasses，twobooksofwhichhewaspassionatelyfondandinwhich，aseriousthingathisage，hewasinterested。

Hisnaturaltimidityrenderedhimaccessibletotheacceptanceofsuperstitionsinacertaindegree。ThefirstofthesebookswasthefamoustreatiseofPresidentDelancre，Del’inconstancedesDemons；

theotherwasaquartobyMutordelaRubaudiere，SurlesDiablesdeVauvertetlesGobelinsdelaBievre。Thislast—mentionedoldvolumeinterestedhimallthemore，becausehisgardenhadbeenoneofthespotshauntedbygoblinsinformertimes。Thetwilighthadbeguntowhitenwhatwasonhighandtoblackenallbelow。

Asheread，overthetopofthebookwhichheheldinhishand，FatherMabeufwassurveyinghisplants，andamongothersamagnificentrhododendronwhichwasoneofhisconsolations；

fourdaysofheat，wind，andsunwithoutadropofrain，hadpassed；

thestalkswerebending，thebudsdrooping，theleavesfalling；

allthisneededwater，therhododendronwasparticularlysad。

FatherMabeufwasoneofthosepersonsforwhomplantshavesouls。

Theoldmanhadtoiledalldayoverhisindigoplot，hewaswornoutwithfatigue，butherose，laidhisbooksonthebench，andwalked，allbentoverandwithtotteringfootsteps，tothewell，butwhenhehadgraspedthechain，hecouldnotevendrawitsufficientlytounhookit。Thenheturnedroundandcastaglanceofanguishtowardheavenwhichwasbecomingstuddedwithstars。

Theeveninghadthatserenitywhichoverwhelmsthetroublesofmanbeneathanindescribablymournfulandeternaljoy。Thenightpromisedtobeasaridasthedayhadbeen。

"Starseverywhere！"thoughttheoldman；"notthetiniestcloud！

Notadropofwater！"

Andhishead，whichhadbeenupraisedforamoment，fellbackuponhisbreast。

Heraiseditagain，andoncemorelookedatthesky，murmuring:——

"Atearofdew！Alittlepity！"

Hetriedagaintounhookthechainofthewell，andcouldnot。

Atthatmoment，heheardavoicesaying:——

"FatherMabeuf，wouldyouliketohavemewateryourgardenforyou？"

Atthesametime，anoiseasofawildanimalpassingbecameaudibleinthehedge，andhebeheldemergingfromtheshrubberyasortoftall，slendergirl，whodrewherselfupinfrontofhimandstaredboldlyathim。Shehadlesstheairofahumanbeingthanofaformwhichhadjustblossomedforthfromthetwilight。

BeforeFatherMabeuf，whowaseasilyterrified，andwhowas，aswehavesaid，quicktotakealarm，wasabletoreplybyasinglesyllable，thisbeing，whosemovementshadasortofoddabruptnessinthedarkness，hadunhookedthechain，plungedinandwithdrawnthebucket，andfilledthewatering—pot，andthegoodmanbeheldthisapparition，whichhadbarefeetandatatteredpetticoat，runningaboutamongtheflower—bedsdistributinglifearoundher。Thesoundofthewatering—potontheleavesfilledFatherMabeuf’ssoulwithecstasy。

Itseemedtohimthattherhododendronwashappynow。

Thefirstbucketfulemptied，thegirldrewasecond，thenathird。

Shewateredthewholegarden。

Therewassomethingabouther，asshethusranaboutamongpaths，whereheroutlineappearedperfectlyblack，wavingherangulararms，andwithherfichuallinrags，thatresembledabat。

Whenshehadfinished，FatherMabeufapproachedherwithtearsinhiseyes，andlaidhishandonherbrow。

"Godwillblessyou，"saidhe，"youareanangelsinceyoutakecareoftheflowers。"

"No，"shereplied。"Iamthedevil，butthat’sallthesametome。"

Theoldmanexclaimed，withouteitherwaitingfororhearingherresponse:——

"WhatapitythatIamsounhappyandsopoor，andthatIcandonothingforyou！"

"Youcandosomething，"saidshe。

"What？"

"TellmewhereM。Mariuslives。"

Theoldmandidnotunderstand。"WhatMonsieurMarius？"

Heraisedhisglassyeyesandseemedtobeseekingsomethingthathadvanished。

"Ayoungmanwhousedtocomehere。"

Inthemeantime，M。Mabeufhadsearchedhismemory。

"Ah！yes——"heexclaimed。"Iknowwhatyoumean。Wait！

MonsieurMarius——theBaronMariusPontmercy，parbleu！Helives，——

orrather，henolongerlives，——ahwell，Idon’tknow。"

Ashespoke，hehadbentovertotrainabranchofrhododendron，andhecontinued:——

"Hold，Iknownow。Heveryoftenpassesalongtheboulevard，andgoesinthedirectionoftheGlaciere，RueCroulebarbe。

ThemeadowoftheLark。Gothere。Itisnothardtomeethim。"

WhenM。Mabeufstraightenedhimselfup，therewasnolongeranyonethere；thegirlhaddisappeared。

Hewasdecidedlyterrified。

"Really，"hethought，"ifmygardenhadnotbeenwatered，Ishouldthinkthatshewasaspirit。"

Anhourlater，whenhewasinbed，itcamebacktohim，andashefellasleep，atthatconfusedmomentwhenthought，likethatfabulousbirdwhichchangesitselfintoafishinordertocrossthesea，littlebylittleassumestheformofadreaminordertotraverseslumber，hesaidtohimselfinabewilderedway:——

"Insooth，thatgreatlyresembleswhatRubaudierenarratesofthegoblins。Couldithavebeenagoblin？"

CHAPTERIV

ANAPPARITIONTOMARIUS

Somedaysafterthisvisitofa"spirit"toFarmerMabeuf，onemorning，——

itwasonaMonday，thedaywhenMariusborrowedthehundred—soupiecefromCourfeyracforThenardier——Mariushadputthiscoininhispocket，andbeforecarryingittotheclerk’soffice，hehadgone"totakealittlestroll，"inthehopethatthiswouldmakehimworkonhisreturn。Itwasalwaysthus，however。Assoonasherose，heseatedhimselfbeforeabookandasheetofpaperinordertoscribblesometranslation；histaskatthatepochconsistedinturningintoFrenchacelebratedquarrelbetweenGermans，theGansandSavignycontroversy；hetookSavigny，hetookGans，readfourlines，triedtowriteone，couldnot，sawastarbetweenhimandhispaper，androsefromhischair，saying:"Ishallgoout。

Thatwillputmeinspirits。"

AndoffhewenttotheLark’smeadow。

Therehebeheldmorethaneverthestar，andlessthaneverSavignyandGans。

Hereturnedhome，triedtotakeuphisworkagain，anddidnotsucceed；

therewasnomeansofre—knottingasingleoneofthethreadswhichwerebrokeninhisbrain；thenhesaidtohimself:"Iwillnotgooutto—morrow。Itpreventsmyworking。"Andhewentouteveryday。

HelivedintheLark’smeadowmorethaninCourfeyrac’slodgings。

Thatwashisrealaddress:BoulevarddelaSante，attheseventhtreefromtheRueCroulebarbe。

ThatmorninghehadquittedtheseventhtreeandhadseatedhimselfontheparapetoftheRiverdesGobelins。Acheerfulsunlightpenetratedthefreshlyunfoldedandluminousleaves。

Hewasdreamingof"Her。"Andhismeditationturningtoareproach，fellbackuponhimself；hereflecteddolefullyonhisidleness，hisparalysisofsoul，whichwasgainingonhim，andofthatnightwhichwasgrowingmoredenseeverymomentbeforehim，tosuchapointthathenolongerevensawthesun。

Nevertheless，athwartthispainfulextricationofindistinctideaswhichwasnotevenamonologue，sofeeblehadactionbecomeinhim，andhehadnolongertheforcetocaretodespair，athwartthismelancholyabsorption，sensationsfromwithoutdidreachhim。

Heheardbehindhim，beneathhim，onbothbanksoftheriver，thelaundressesoftheGobelinsbeatingtheirlinen，andabovehishead，thebirdschatteringandsingingintheelm—trees。

Ontheonehand，thesoundofliberty，thecarelesshappinessoftheleisurewhichhaswings；ontheother，thesoundoftoil。

Whatcausedhimtomeditatedeeply，andalmostreflect，weretwocheerfulsounds。

Allatonce，inthemidstofhisdejectedecstasy，heheardafamiliarvoicesaying:——

"Come！Hereheis！"

Heraisedhiseyes，andrecognizedthatwretchedchildwhohadcometohimonemorning，theelderoftheThenardierdaughters，Eponine；heknewhernamenow。Strangetosay，shehadgrownpoorerandprettier，twostepswhichithadnotseemedwithinherpowertotake。

Shehadaccomplishedadoubleprogress，towardsthelightandtowardsdistress。Shewasbarefootedandinrags，asonthedaywhenshehadsoresolutelyenteredhischamber，onlyherragsweretwomonthsoldernow，theholeswerelarger，thetattersmoresordid。

Itwasthesameharshvoice，thesamebrowdimmedandwrinkledwithtan，thesamefree，wild，andvacillatingglance。Shehadbesides，morethanformerly，inherfacethatindescribablyterrifiedandlamentablesomethingwhichsojourninaprisonaddstowretchedness。

Shehadbitsofstrawandhayinherhair，notlikeOpheliathroughhavinggonemadfromthecontagionofHamlet’smadness，butbecauseshehadsleptintheloftofsomestable。

Andinspiteofitall，shewasbeautiful。Whatastarartthou，Oyouth！

Inthemeantime，shehadhaltedinfrontofMariuswithatraceofjoyinherlividcountenance，andsomethingwhichresembledasmile。

Shestoodforseveralmomentsasthoughincapableofspeech。

"SoIhavemetyouatlast！"shesaidatlength。"FatherMabeufwasright，itwasonthisboulevard！HowIhavehuntedforyou！

Ifyouonlyknew！Doyouknow？Ihavebeeninthejug。Afortnight！

Theyletmeout！seeingthattherewasnothingagainstme，andthat，moreover，Ihadnotreachedyearsofdiscretion。Ilacktwomonthsofit。Oh！howIhavehuntedforyou！Thesesixweeks！

Soyoudon’tlivedownthereanymore？"

"No，"saidMarius。

"Ah！Iunderstand。Becauseofthataffair。Thosetake—downsaredisagreeable。Youclearedout。Comenow！Whydoyouwearoldhatslikethis！Ayoungmanlikeyououghttohavefineclothes。

Doyouknow，MonsieurMarius，FatherMabeufcallsyouBaronMarius，Idon’tknowwhat。Itisn’ttruethatyouareabaron？Baronsareoldfellows，theygototheLuxembourg，infrontofthechateau，wherethereisthemostsun，andtheyreadtheQuotidienneforasou。

Ioncecarriedalettertoabaronofthatsort。Hewasoverahundredyearsold。Say，wheredoyoulivenow？"

Mariusmadenoreply。

"Ah！"shewenton，"youhaveaholeinyourshirt。Imustsewitupforyou。"

Sheresumedwithanexpressionwhichgraduallycloudedover:——

"Youdon’tseemgladtoseeme。"

Mariusheldhispeace；sheremainedsilentforamoment，thenexclaimed:——

"ButifIchoose，nevertheless，Icouldforceyoutolookglad！"

"What？"demandedMarius。"Whatdoyoumean？"

"Ah！youusedtocallmethou，"sheretorted。

"Well，then，whatdostthoumean？"

Shebitherlips；sheseemedtohesitate，asthoughapreytosomesortofinwardconflict。Atlastsheappearedtocometoadecision。

"Somuchtheworse，Idon’tcare。Youhaveamelancholyair，Iwantyoutobepleased。Onlypromisemethatyouwillsmile。

Iwanttoseeyousmileandhearyousay:`Ah，well，that’sgood。’

PoorMr。Marius！youknow？YoupromisedmethatyouwouldgivemeanythingIlike——"

"Yes！Onlyspeak！"

ShelookedMariusfullintheeye，andsaid:——

"Ihavetheaddress。"

Mariusturnedpale。Allthebloodflowedbacktohisheart。

"Whataddress？"

"Theaddressthatyouaskedmetoget！"

Sheadded，asthoughwithaneffort:——

"Theaddress——youknowverywell！"

"Yes！"stammeredMarius。

"Ofthatyounglady。"

Thisworduttered，shesigheddeeply。

Mariussprangfromtheparapetonwhichhehadbeensittingandseizedherhanddistractedly。

"Oh！Well！leadmethither！Tellme！Askofmeanythingyouwish！

Whereisit？"

"Comewithme，"sheresponded。"Idon’tknowthestreetornumberverywell；itisinquitetheotherdirectionfromhere，butIknowthehousewell，Iwilltakeyoutoit。"

Shewithdrewherhandandwenton，inatonewhichcouldhaverenttheheartofanobserver，butwhichdidnotevengrazeMariusinhisintoxicatedandecstaticstate:——

"Oh！howgladyouare！"

AcloudsweptacrossMarius’brow。HeseizedEponinebythearm:——

"Swearonethingtome！"

"Swear！"saidshe，"whatdoesthatmean？Come！Youwantmetoswear？"

Andshelaughed。

"Yourfather！promiseme，Eponine！Sweartomethatyouwillnotgivethisaddresstoyourfather！"

Sheturnedtohimwithastupefiedair。

"Eponine！HowdoyouknowthatmynameisEponine？"

"PromisewhatItellyou！"

Butshedidnotseemtohearhim。

"That’snice！YouhavecalledmeEponine！"

Mariusgraspedbothherarmsatonce。

"Butanswerme，inthenameofHeaven！payattentiontowhatIamsayingtoyou，sweartomethatyouwillnottellyourfatherthisaddressthatyouknow！"

"Myfather！"saidshe。"Ahyes，myfather！Beatease。

He’sincloseconfinement。Besides，whatdoIcareformyfather！"

"Butyoudonotpromiseme！"exclaimedMarius。

"Letgoofme！"shesaid，burstingintoalaugh，"howyoudoshakeme！

Yes！Yes！Ipromisethat！Iswearthattoyou！Whatisthattome？

Iwillnottellmyfathertheaddress。There！Isthatright？

Isthatit？"

"Nortoanyone？"saidMarius。

"Nortoanyone。"

"Now，"resumedMarius，"takemethere。"

"Immediately？"

"Immediately。"

"Comealong。Ah！howpleasedheis！"saidshe。

Afterafewstepsshehalted。

"Youarefollowingmetooclosely，MonsieurMarius。Letmegoonahead，andfollowmeso，withoutseemingtodoit。Aniceyoungmanlikeyoumustnotbeseenwithawomanlikeme。"

Notonguecanexpressallthatlayinthatword，woman，thuspronouncedbythatchild。

Sheproceededadozenpacesandthenhaltedoncemore；Mariusjoinedher。

Sheaddressedhimsideways，andwithoutturningtowardshim:——

"Bytheway，youknowthatyoupromisedmesomething？"

Mariusfumbledinhispocket。AllthatheownedintheworldwasthefivefrancsintendedforThenardierthefather。HetookthemandlaidtheminEponine’shand。

Sheopenedherfingersandletthecoinfalltotheground，andgazedathimwithagloomyair。

"Idon’twantyourmoney，"saidshe。

BOOKTHIRD。——THEHOUSEINTHERUEPLUMET

CHAPTERI

THEHOUSEWITHASECRET

Aboutthemiddleofthelastcentury，achiefjusticeintheParliamentofParishavingamistressandconcealingthefact，foratthatperiodthegrandseignorsdisplayedtheirmistresses，andthebourgeoisconcealedthem，had"alittlehouse"builtintheFaubourgSaint—Germain，inthedesertedRueBlomet，whichisnowcalledRuePlumet，notfarfromthespotwhichwasthendesignatedasCombatdesAnimaux。

Thishousewascomposedofasingle—storiedpavilion；tworoomsonthegroundfloor，twochambersonthefirstfloor，akitchendownstairs，aboudoirupstairs，anatticundertheroof，thewholeprecededbyagardenwithalargegateopeningonthestreet。

Thisgardenwasaboutanacreandahalfinextent。Thiswasallthatcouldbeseenbypassers—by；butbehindthepaviliontherewasanarrowcourtyard，andattheendofthecourtyardalowbuildingconsistingoftworoomsandacellar，asortofpreparationdestinedtoconcealachildandnurseincaseofneed。Thisbuildingcommunicatedintherearbyamaskeddoorwhichopenedbyasecretspring，withalong，narrow，pavedwindingcorridor，opentothesky，hemmedinwithtwoloftywalls，which，hiddenwithwonderfulart，andlostasitwerebetweengardenenclosuresandcultivatedland，allofwhoseanglesanddetoursitfollowed，endedinanotherdoor，alsowithasecretlockwhichopenedaquarterofaleagueaway，almostinanotherquarter，atthesolitaryextremityoftheRueduBabylone。

Throughthisthechiefjusticeentered，sothateventhosewhowerespyingonhimandfollowinghimwouldmerelyhaveobservedthatthejusticebetookhimselfeverydayinamysteriouswaysomewhere，andwouldneverhavesuspectedthattogototheRuedeBabylonewastogototheRueBlomet。Thankstocleverpurchasersofland，themagistratehadbeenabletomakeasecret，sewer—likepassageonhisownproperty，andconsequently，withoutinterference。Lateron，hehadsoldinlittleparcels，forgardensandmarketgardens，thelotsofgroundadjoiningthecorridor，andtheproprietorsoftheselotsonbothsidesthoughttheyhadapartywallbeforetheireyes，anddidnotevensuspectthelong，pavedribbonwindingbetweentwowallsamidtheirflower—bedsandtheirorchards。

Onlythebirdsbeheldthiscuriosity。Itisprobablethatthelinnetsandtomtitsofthelastcenturygossipedagreatdealaboutthechiefjustice。

Thepavilion，builtofstoneinthetasteofMansard，wainscotedandfurnishedintheWatteaustyle，rocailleontheinside，old—fashionedontheoutside，walledinwithatriplehedgeofflowers，hadsomethingdiscreet，coquettish，andsolemnaboutit，asbefitsacapriceofloveandmagistracy。

Thishouseandcorridor，whichhavenowdisappeared，wereinexistencefifteenyearsago。In’93acoppersmithhadpurchasedthehousewiththeideaofdemolishingit，buthadnotbeenabletopaytheprice；thenationmadehimbankrupt。Sothatitwasthehousewhichdemolishedthecoppersmith。Afterthat，thehouseremaine

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